Improvement in boots and shoes



INVENTOR v @6 5:

M R 0 B L l N G B 0 ots a nd 8 h o e s N0. 168,051, Patented Sept.2l,18'75.'

WITNESSES i to the-wooden sole by horizontal said staples being, at the grooved portion UNITED STATES MATHIAS ROBLING, OF SORANTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF HIS RIGHT TO PETER ROBLING, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 168,05 1, dated September 21, 1875; application filed June 1c, 1875.

To all whom it may concern? Be it known that I, MATHIAS ROBLING, of Scranton, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boots and Shoes, of which the following is a specifi cation:

The invention relates to boots and shoes with soles made in part of wood, and, under the illustration -.hereiuaf'ter described, is designed primarily and especially for miners shoes.

The invention consists in cutting a number of; parallel' transverse grooves or slits from the upper surface ofthe sole, penetratingnearly to the lower surface to impart flexibility under the ball of the foot.

The invention further consists in combining with a wooden sole, constructed as above set forth, an outer casing of sole-leather, covering this with copper or other sheet metal,

securely nailed thereon, incasing the lower part of the upper with a band of soleleather, and securing the said casing-band staples,

of the sole, so applied as not to span or cross the grooves, so as not to impair the flexibility of the grooved sole. The wooden heel is incased in a metallic band, secured by nails, screws, or rivets. As a substitute for this band a sole-leather band may be applied around theheel.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1.is a side elevation of a miners shoe, illustrating the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is an underside view. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4, Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a metallic heel-casing. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the attaching-staples. In a cheap shoe of the kind shown, the main body of the sole A and heel B are made in one piece of elm or other suitable wood, which has great capacity for absorbing moistme, and possesses the peculiarity of acquiring great ductility when moist. To increase the flexibility of the sole anumber of parallel transverse grooves, a, are cut from the upper surface, as shown in Fig. 2, nearly to the lower part, leaving the bottom of the sole intact. 0 represents a covering of sole-leather applied over the lower surface of the sole beneath the toe and ball of the foot A, and extended upward, C, over, and around the lower portion of the upper D, so as to protect the latter from wear and the rough usage to whichthis portion of the shoe is exposed when in use by miners. The upper portion of the sole-leather casing G is stitched to the upper B in front, as shown in Fig. 1. cured to the sole A and heel B by horizontal staples E extending completely around the sole and heel, so applied as not to cross or span the grooves or slits a. One of these staples is shown detached at Fig. 6.- The sole-leather casing or a separate sole-leather band, 0 may extend downward, so as to completely cover the vertical sides of the heel, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, being secured thereto by additional rows of staph-s E, or, if preferred,

'a metallic rim or casing, F, Fig. 5, may encircle the .lower part of the heel. The under surfaces of the sole and heel-are completely covered by sheets of 'copper G G, secured thereto by nails H, which are applied in suffieient numbers to take the Wear. The sole is drilled and plugged with Wood to prevent the sole from splitting. The heel-plugs giv additional strength at that point.

The following is claimed as new 1. The combination of the Wooden sole and heel A B, with transverse grooves or slits a, the sole-leather casing or foxing C the upper D, and the horizontal staples E E, applied as specified, to secure the parts together without crossing or spanning the grooves a.

2. The combination of the Wooden sole A B, sole-leather casing or foxing G and sheetmetal covering G, as set forth.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand this 20th dayof May, 1875.

, M. ROBLIN G. Witnesses:

WALTER ALLEN, OHAs. J. Gooon.

The entire casing is se-g 

